Making healthy choices accessible

One of the things Democrat and Chronicle Investigative Reporter David Riley talked about during our preview of Sunday's piece on health care disparities was the effort underway to improve food choices in corner stores, like the work being done by Rochester's North East Area Development organization.

It reminded me of something First Lady Michelle Obama talked about during a sit down interview we had two years ago at the White House: food deserts. According to the USDA, food deserts are usually found in low-income areas where it's hard to find fresh vegetables and fruits and healthy foods because of a lack of nearby grocery stores.

I was in Washington D.C. following a group of local Girl Scouts invited to help with the spring planting at the White House garden. The First Lady started it so they would have fresh produce whenever they wanted. She told me how, growing up in Chicago, her family only had flower gardens...no veggies in sight,

Reporter David Riley spoke with WHEC's Janet Lomax about the latest Unite Rochester report on health disparities among Monroe County and city residents.
WHEC

Mrs.Obama said, "There are whole communities that don't have access to fresh produce and we need to eliminate every food desert in this country so that every parent can buy a head of lettuce."

In other words, every parent should be able to buy a head of lettuce or tomatoes or apples or pears or mangos without having to leave their own neighborhood and in many cases travel miles away to get it.

Sunday's Unite Rochester story is focusing on much more than what you can or cannot buy in local corner stores. David Riley's piece looks at health disparities in areas like cancer rates, lifespans, mental distress and diabetes and how it impacts all of us no matter where you live. His piece also focuses on what's being done to close the gaps.